Allegations of fraud at The Vintage Aviator

[India Four Two]

Eugene John DeMarco of Sir Peter Jackson's firm Vintage Aviator charged with fraud

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?objectid=12228214 (https://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?objectid=12228214&ref=twitter)

News page of TVAL website:

http://thevintageaviator.co.nz/

[Planemike]

The photograph in the NZHerald article shows a de Havilland 82A Tiger Moth and a SV4B Stampe neither of which have much connection with World War One. Journalists.....!!

[treadigraph]

Unfortunately Gene seems to have some history. Very sad to see it, innocent until proved guilty but...

Disappointed.

[India Four Two]

Gene DeMarco has been found guilty on all six charges. He will be sentenced on Wednesday, 31st October.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/115771611/peter-jacksons-former-vintage-plane-manager-found-guilty-of-2m-fraud-and-theft

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

Here are all the news stories about the trial from STUFF.co.nz...

May 06, 2019
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/111828103/former-aviator-from-sir-peter-jacksonowned-company-faces-fraud-charges

August 26, 2019
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/115243185/peter-jacksons-vintage-plane-company-pilotmanager-on-fraud-and-theft-charges

August 27, 2019
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/115304814/shock-when-2m-paid-for-peter-jackson-vintage-planes-seemed-in-doubt

August 28, 2019
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/115335120/jackson-aircraft-company-employee-wanted-more-for-the-work

August 29, 2019
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/115367545/filmmaker-peter-jackson-a-witness-at-trial-of-former-staffer-eugene-demarco

August 30, 2019
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/115402492/vintage-plane-collector-rues-us500000-deal-with-friend

September 02, 2019
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/115458119/employee-added-540000-mark-up-to-filmmakers-vintage-planes-court-told

September 03, 2019
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/115484939/accountant-doubts-employees-plan-to-pay-for-filmmakers-vintage-planes

September 06, 2019
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/115591713/sir-peter-jacksons-former-vintage-plane-flyer-worked-on-latest-bond-film

September 09, 2019
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/115639619/sir-peter-jacksons--plane-company-down-645000-from-sale-where-fraud-alleged

September 11, 2019
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/115674107/filmmakers-flyer-facing-court-on-two-fronts-over-money-and-planes-disputes

September 12, 2019
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/115687320/sir-peter-jacksons-former-vintage-plane-specialist-awaits-jury-verdicts

September 13, 2019
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/115771611/peter-jacksons-former-vintage-plane-manager-found-guilty-of-2m-fraud-and-theft

September 13, 2019
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/115755090/vintage-plane-experts-no-crime-defence-didnt-fly-with-jury

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

However, on a brighter note, The Vintage Aviator Ltd. is carrying on and is active.

Their first flying weekend of the season is next month and they are holding seven flying weekends at Hood Aerodrome up until next April.

Officially, their flying weekends aren't open to the public, but plenty of people turn up to watch and TVAL's staff and pilots interact with people who are there.

And I'm lucky enough to live only a few minute's drive from there.

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

Two years & five months jail.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/116805090/filmmaker-peter-jacksons-piranha-gene-demarco-jailed-for-fraud-and-theft

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/crime/news/article.cfm?c_id=30&objectid=12282471

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

This article from STUFF contains a link to download and read the judge's sentencing notes & statement...

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/118000898/sickened-and-outraged--how-filmmaker-fran-walsh-felt-as-a-victim-of-crime

[mattyj]

Funnily enough Mr DeMarco and his Avro 504K are making a star turn on PrimeTVs brief history of NZ aviation running right now. I wonder if he has TV in his prison cell

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

The attached article is being published in the March 2021 edition of Vanity Fair magazine.